The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-06-04
DECORATION DAY.
Ceremonies in westminster-Address of Rev. J..
Ward d

Ceremonies in Westminster Address of Rev. J.
T. Ward, D. D.
Decoration Day, May 80, and Whit Monday,
u general holiday, came together this year,
and memorial services were observed to q
more general extent than usual. The exer-
cises were under the auspices OF Burns Post,
No. ID, G. A. r., and very many OF the cili-
zens of the city and county joined them in
laying floral tributes on the graves of deceased
soldiers.
The procession was formed at Odd Fellows
Hall aud marched to the cemetery along Main
street 1t was headed by the Westminster
Band and Drum Corps. Following them
came Burns Post, at the head of winch was
| Commander Howard Frizze, and Thaddeus
Stevens Post, No. 40, of New Windsor, ST.
mon p. Murdoch, commander. On arriving
ut the cemetery prayers were offered by Revs.
| Charles Reid ard A. S. Weber. Patriotic
hymns were sung by choir under the lead
of Prof C. H. Spurrica. The address was
delivered by Rev. J. I. Ward, president OF
the Westminster Theological Seminary. DIR.
Ward spoke as follows:
RESPECTED HEARERS when my esteemed friend.
Col. VIM. A. MeKelip as the representative OF the
deServedly honored Burns Post of the Grand Army
| of the Republic. made request OF me 10 take the
monies of ths oeaSson had no hestancy in CON
senting to contribute my humble share toward hon
Oring the memory OF those VINO gave themselves 10
the Service OF their country in perilous time, and
whose bodies lie Wondering in the graves OF our
cemeteries, vas especially willing to comply De
cause the request was put in this form; W e only
desire a brief address, and in your own way" II
much had been expected of me, eohld not have
undertaken il with much readiness but the little
could do could not refuse the object itself having
my hearty approval and sympathy.
It truly said by an old divine that Gratitude
is an essential part of religion" In its supreme
sense this of course relates to God, our Creator Pre-
server and Redeemer, the Author of all good and
der unto Him for all His benefits ?" is the grand in
quiry. 1--WE love Him because He first loved us"
| and the outpouring of the hearts best offerings
should be freely and continually made unto Him.
But in Il subordinate sense. owe debts of graft
tude to our fellow men. in various relations and IN
degrees proporioned 10 the good they have done us
Gods first commandment with promise" recognizes
| this: Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy
days may be long in the land which the Lord thy
God giveth thee.h And every reasonable consider
alton conspires to establish the proprety grateful
returns for benefits received by us The ungrateful
child in a family is generally regarded with oppro
brium. and the ungratelul citizen in a common
wealth deserves repfobaton; but in the child the
citizen the display of gratitude is beautiful it is
also certainly beneficial, for
when gratitude o'eriows the swelling heart,
| And breathes in free and interrupted praise
| For benefits received propitious heaven
| Takes such acknowledgements as fragrant incense,
And doubles all its blessings
Among the most renowned Of nations in the olden
times as well as among all the intelligent of to-day
gratitude has been held 10 be one of the highest
OF virtues and its exercise has been productive OF
the happiest results. 1t is the foundation principle
| of all memorials and without 1t we should become
selfish and inconsiderative of the best men and
We are here day, my friends, to recognize and
endeavcr to express our grateful memory Of the men
by whose conservation of themselves to the service
| of their country and ours, we enjoy much OF the
good we now possess It is not possible for say
exactly what portion of the good we have is due TO
the nartcular service of any one of the number Of
those who shared in the perils of war but certain it
| is that we owe something to the humblest of them,
| honest conviction
! enter not into the question of the necessity OF
war under any circumstances but will express my
matured belief that any argument forsuch necessity
must he based upon the mournfu fact of mans es-
trnnremen from the original purpose Of his Creator
| and that when mankind shall have been restored
| from that arrangement there will be no more war
of man with man. For the coming of that glorious
time we most ardentIy pray:a and while we thus pray
LET MS earnestly labor 10 promote the spirit of peace
and good will 10 all according TO the teaching and
| Christ
Rnt even while in the disordered condition of
human affairs through sin wars and other dreadful
evils exist the benign counteracting influences of
Christianity serve to mitigate the horrors of those
evils. and Furthermore we are diyinely taught tina
! our Father in heaven looks down upon His erring
| creatures with pity and compassion watches over
! them with tender commiseration and by means Of
/ His oyerruling providence
.o,,t = r Iii en-, ad,,oas ,.oo, .,
NH' Va va ss'ii su 80 So +, a..
II may seem inconsistent that we should IN the
same breath advocate the principles Of universal
peace and nohor the memory OF men WHO ,enghSeu
N scenes OF wa. ou5 Is y ~ nore i ia y, a.
as ut once the God of Peace and the God of Battles
We cannot foresee how good can be made to result
/ too. by the fundamentally of men-of good men.
who are in harmony with Ills wise and holy pnr-
poses as well as of bad men, who would but cannot
turn those purposes aside. Men may propose but
Cod disposes. olten Ioes ne MAKE, MAKE even me
M[ath .. MAJ, 70 !, III dth occordin ~ His
in i,i VI mn'i n tr.,, o,J 10 tbs ,nb ahi
VII, VII ~ ~ tt a nar;ib " s'' anu -'7 ''
MANY Of those who now hear me can hardly form
lust conception of the state of things in
try on the eve of the breaking out Of the war, in
which those whose memory we honor to-day took
/ mart IL was before some who hear me were born,
/ understand much of hubble affairs But there are
! those present who. like myself wildly and pain
| fully remember the time Of intense excitement in
our Iand-a time such as we hope never again TO
pssl@e have no dispostion 10 ATTEMPT A deserip-
| lion Of those DAYS of anxiety and perplexity But
his will sov that If may iudge from my own ex-
nercnce am sure that ali Christian people depre-
/ Gated the on-coming conflict and none were wise
enough TO ioresee how any good could possibly come
| ont ~ Il aithon0h n seemed INEVITABLE when lht
! disnutes ar Inc decades nreeeding had eliminated
! However much ali good men would have preferred
WAR their eopvietiors of duty We're very decided
| when the calamity was upon them And now, as
we look back and consider, we cannot fail 10 see
Gods overriding hand bringing about results from
which the nation through all its borders is realizing
benefits Old animosities are now, we believe to a
great exteut buried from among us as they Ger.
/ fhainIv ali shonid be and the liberty which the
fathers Of our fathers, and likewise many OF our
faers aud brofhers ffired and died 10 seeure for
rs still lives and ourshes in an increased number
" sfates moi dismembered and belgerent but united
and free NAV ali The neople of ali these states he
faithf1 in maintaining those prineiples which form
the basis of our national existence happiness and
/ prosperity and may God be glorihed and all the
nations of the earth be blessed through our nstru-
mentality. Let us pray as we have sung to-day:
| az ono may onr land be bright
With freedoms holy light;
| Great G6di onr KIM
| 80 80" e-.t,..= . -. a.
Ohe OBJECT OF our Isseoilns - 70 saISM no ,
upon me graves 81 those Wnose tos anu sacrinees
eontfioutcd t9W s our i ",
SHIRT nj, - ,ao.o.;,. ,,-o,,os nth ao,,av, ,s
lne cusvoa ., @ LILLE ,5;i miT " VT ~,
very Incce. IAIJiis ;,h ELY h, y - s
nave peen reeaIueq MIlI ss'to ~, odt "a ioiet.
Tunes " mas 9een Ierlreu, anu loohSI np4 ~ al
we'll ne other EsneeialIy in our country since the
war. which terminated with the happy result of the
| Union preserved and freedom enlarged the people
\ In mi narts of the land have met on stated days
/ men women and children participating in the GER
cmonv IN decorate the graves Of the soldiers of the
war Win flowers not only as expressive OF the de-